Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR II

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Review

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is one of the better kit lenses out there, but it's best acquired when bundled with a camera at a lower cost. The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II ($249.95) is a redesigned version of Nikon's older AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR($149.00 at Amazon). It maintains the same focal length, aperture, and vibration reduction system, but cuts down on size thanks to a collapsible design, and has one functional difference that is going to make photographers who employ polarizing filters happy. Its price is high when bought on its own, but if you're buying a new Nikon camera with the lens thrown in at a modest premium, you'll be happy to know that it's a solid starter zoom. The 18-55mm($246.95 at Amazon) has a collapsible design, not unlike the zooms that ship with cameras in the Nikon 1 system. There's a button on the lens barrel that you can hold down to place it in or take it out of its collapsed state, which is marked by an L on the zoom ring. You can't shoot with the lens when it's collapsed, but it does cut down on its size in your bag. The lens measures just 2.6 by 2.3 inch...